2017-2023

Most of the services for the elderly were planned and implemented through our partnership with the Community Center in Cobani. The focus has been on providing a decent standard of living to retirees without any relatives or those who are severely sick, some are bed ridden.  Services for the elderly that were provided during this period of time include:

• Hot Meals at Home. Every year 25-30 elderly families from Cobani received hot lunches at home, five times per week, during the first four months of the year and then three times per week for the remaining weeks of the year. In 2022, Neemia expanded the delivery of hot lunches to 30 elderly families in four additional nearby villages.
• Heating Assistance. Each year between 90-130 families received heating supplies of wood or coal to heat their homes during the winter months.
• Food Packages. Each year from 20-65 needy families received food packages a few times per year.
• Laundry Each year volunteers from the Community Center brought clothing and other items from 15-20 elderly families and washed them at the Community Center several times per year.
• Walking Canes.  Distributed walking canes for elderly in Cobani.

2016

In the winter of 2016, WHI and our partner in Cobani, Neemia, started a program called A Hot Meals at Your Home. Through this program we served 30 elderly who don’t have any relatives, or who are disabled, with hot lunches three times per week. The program lasted from February until the middle of July. Our partner contracted with a cafeteria in a neighboring town who prepared the meals and Neemia distributed these to these families throughout the town of Cobani. For some of them, those meals were the only hot meals that they had during the week. 

We also purchased coal in December of 2016 for 25 elderly families in Cobani. This donation provided them with some assistance to heat their homes during the winter as their pensions are not enough to satisfy their basic needs. 

2015

During the summer 2015 WHI continued to support the elderly, sick and low income families with food supplies. We distributed packages to 70 families which included what are considered basic necessities in Moldova. Those who received assistance included: (1) 46 elderly who don’t have any relatives; (2) 6 disabled from childhood and disabled children; (3) 14 disabled of 1st group. Each food package contained the following staples: 1kg each of corn meal, wheat meal, buckwheat, sugar, rice and pasta; 2 kg wheat flour; and 2 liters sunflower oil.  

2014

In the summer and fall of 2014 we distributed food packages to more than 100 elderly families and families with disabled members. This assistance was very timely as many of them were lacking food items and we had the opportunity to fulfill their needs. All of these families were very thankful to all of our donors for their contributions to improve their diets.  

2013

During the summer of 2013 WHI continued to support the elderly and other needy with food packages. 90 families of elderly, sick and families with low incomes received food packages that included rice, wheat meal, wheat flour, corn flour, buckwheat, sugar, and vegetable oil. Volunteers from Switzerland and Moldova painted the fences, gates, windows and doors for 12 elderly families. The expenses for paint and painting supplies were covered by WHI. 

2012

This summer Moldova had one of most severe droughts in in the past 70 years and as a result many elderly couldn’t grow as much food as the previous year.  In order to address the lack of food items, WHI purchased and delivered food packages to 78 elderly and sick families in the village of Cobani in July 2012. Also, in the fall of 2012 WHI supplied elderly families in Cobani with firewood for the winter.   

2010

WHI continued to assist the elderly families. 52 families each received one cubic meter of firewood to heat their homes in the winter and 33 elderly families and families with disabilities each received 50 kilograms of wheat flour. 

2009

Since homes in Moldovan villages are heated by wood or coal, WHI purchased firewood for 30 needy elderly families in Cobani. With assistance from WHI and the government, these families were able to stay warm during the winter months. WHI also purchased 30 kilograms of wheat flour for each of 47 elderly individuals to use in making bread. Bread is a main staple for Moldovans, and the flour was enough to last for two months.

2008

WHI identified five elderly individuals in Cobani who were in immediate need of prescription medications which they could not afford. In consultation with the local doctors, WHI purchased these medications from the local pharmacy and donated them to these individuals. WHI purchased wood for home heating for 20 Cobani families that were identified as the neediest families in the village. They don’t have children to assist them during their retirement and their government pensions cover only 50% of their basic needs.